Method of sewing knitted fabrics

ABSTRACT

A method which permits the cutting and home sewing of knitted fabrics. A pattern outline is traced on the knitted fabric and then the traced outline is sewn. The knitted fabric is then cut beyond the outer portion of the sewn outline. Parts of the knitted fabric prepared in this manner may be assembled into a finished garment by sewing or other means.

United States Patent [191 Katz [ METHOD OF SEWING KNITTED FABRICS [75] Inventor: Joseph Lawrence Katz, New York,

[73] Assignee: Alphabet Unlimited [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 130,889

52 US. Cl. .Q .Q ..2/243 B [51] Int. Cl. ..A41d 27/00 [58] Field of Search ..2/243 A, 243 B, 239; 66/172 R, 169 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1962 Getaz ..2/239 X [451 Apr. 10, 1973 RlO,73O 1,915,792

6/1886 Borton et al. ..66/l72 R UX 6/1933 Kugelman ..2/239 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney-Milton M. Wolson [57] ABSTRACT A method which permits the cutting and home sewing of knitted fabrics. A pattern outline is traced on the knitted fabric and then the traced outline is sewn. The knitted fabric is then cut beyond the outer portion of the sewn outline. Parts of the knitted fabric prepared in this manner may be assembled into a finished garment by sewing or other means.

2 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures (ii h rw' n tutu u Wax.

METHOD OF SEWING KNITTED FABRICS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Historically, the main attraction of home sewing has been economic; home sewing enabled clothing to be made at a much lower cost than the cost of similar clothing sold in retail stores. The present side spread popularity of home sewing is due to this economic attraction as well as several other factors; one of which is the enormous selection of fabrics commercially available to the home sewer.

These fabrics have included wool, rayon, cotton, etc; indeed virtually every conventional and well known fabric with one notable exception: knitted fabrics such as those of the coarse gauge or medium gauge construction. Neither the fabric manufactureres in this multi-million dollar market nor anyone else have ever been able to devise an efficient, economic, and simple process which could utilize these knitted fabrics for home sewing and thereby create a new market for these extremely popular knit fabrics.

Now for the first time, there is set forth herein an efficient, economic, and simple process which permits the home sewing of these type of knitted fabrics. While coarse gauge or medium gauge construction knits have been mentioned specifically, it is stressed that they are merely illustrative of an entire class of knitted fabrics to which the present invention is directed; namely that class of knitted fabrics wherein the rows of loops tend to run or come apart(readily lose their structure) when cut.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION The common process of home sewing requires the basic steps of cutting the material to .be sewn along a pattern outline and then sewing the cut sections into a garment or other finished products.

While the described process is readily suitable for the cutting and sewing of many conventional fabrics; knitted fabrics having rows of relatively large loops such as coarse gauge or medium gauge knit could not be cut and sewn in this manner because when the (knitted) loops were cut they would lose their stability. Upon subsequent handling of the cut fabric prior to the sewing step; the loops would run and the knit would be destroyed.

The present invention sets forth a process for the home sewing of knitted fabrics which includes the step of conditioning the knitted fabric so that it may be cut or otherwise severed without the knitted loops losing their stability and unravelling. The conditioning of the knitted fabric is accomplished by sewing the knitted fabric along a traced pattern outline. After the fabric is sewn in this manner, the fabric is out beyond the outer portion of the sewn outline.

It has been found that sewing in this manner along the outline of the pattern prior to cutting, prevents subsequent unravelling of the knitted fabric. Thus the home sewer, requiring only a home sewing machine and other conventional home sewing equipment is able for the first time to sew garments and the like from knitted fabrics of large loop construction by an efficient, economic and simple process.

It is also within the scope of this present invention to set forth a process which will permit a home sewer, Without using more than conventional home sewing implements, to condition a knitted fabric so that it may be cut and not unravel when subsequently handled or operated upon.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple and efficient process which permits a knitted fabric to be cut without subsequent unravelling of the fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple and efficient process which permits the cutting and subsequent. sewing of knitted fabric without unravelling of the fabric.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple and efficient process which permits the home sewing of knitted fabrics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a home sewing process which permits a home sewer, using only a sewing machine and other conventional sewing implements (e.g. patterns,chalk, etc.) to cut knitted fabrics, in such a manner that the knitted fabric will not unravel.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a process which permits a home sewer, using only a sewing machine to condition a knitted fabric, in such a manner that the knitted fabric when out will not unravel when subsequent steps, such as sewing, are performed on the cut fabric.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from reading of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG.1 illustrates a single yarn formed into a row of loops.

FIG.2 illustrates a series of rows of loops, of the type illustrated in F161, interconnected to form a knit fabric of the type to which this invention is directed. In

this figure the conventional manner of cutting a fabric is shown.

FlG.3 illustrates the same knit fabric as illustrated in FIG.2, except that in this figure the fabric has been conditioned and cut in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing in FIG.1 there is shown a single yarn 10 formed in the shape of loops 12. Each loop 12, includes a needle or upper loop, 14 and a sinker or lower loop 16.

FIG. 2 illustrates a knit fabric, 20 composed of several interconnected yarns. Each row of yarns is known as a course. A course 26 of knit fabric 20 may be severed along line A--A in a conventional manner. An attempt will be made next to explain physically what causes fabric 20 to run when it is cut in a conventional manner. For this purpose, attention is directed to the vertical line of loops indicated generally by the dotted line 28-28; although it should be remembered that the same phenomenon occurs to other vertical 16" to lose its ability to support the lower needle loop 10". While only three courses have been illustrated it is apparant that this yarn weakening may also extend to further courses.

In any event, with fabric in this condition, subsequent handling of the fabric, as in the sewing operation; causes horizontal courses of the fabric to become disassociated, or run.

The above described characteristics of a knit fabric to run when it is cut is completely eliminated by conditioning the fabric in accordance with the method discussed below.

When it is desired to cut the knit fabric along line BB of FIGS a line 38 may be traced general parallel and a short distance from line BB. Next using a sewing machine or other means line 38 is stitched as at 40. The stitches 40 extend close to the line BB. The fabric 12 may then be out along path BB in a manner so as not to cut the stitches 40; and path BB of fabric 12 may then be sewn to another fabric section to form a garment. Stitches 40 being effective to prevent subsequent unravelling of cut fabric 12.

While the illustrated stitch 40 is a zig-zag stitch it is within the contemplation of this invention to use various other stitches to condition a knitted fabric for cutting. The particular stitch to be used for a given fabric will depend on the configuration of the knitted fabric, the characteristics of the knitted fabric etc.

While only one particular knitted fabric and one particular stitch has been illustrated the process described in this specification, it will be apparant to those skilled in the art, and within the concept embodied in the presentapplication, that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In accordance with established patent law practise; it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A method of preparing a knitted garment from a knitted fabric comprising the steps of:

l. Placing a pattern representing at least one garment section on the knitted fabric,

2. Tracing the outline of the pattern on the knitted fabric, 7

3. Sewing the traced outline on the knitted fabric with a sewing stitch,

4. Cutting the knitted fabric on the outer portion of the sewn outline of the garment section and,

5. Sewing the garment section along its out edge to the edge of an appropriate garment section so as to form a knitted garment.

2. A method of preparing a knitted garment from a knitted fabric comprising the steps of:

l. Placing a pattern representing each garment section on the knitted fabric,

2. Tracing the outline of each pattern on the knitted fabric,

3. Sewing each traced outline on the knitted fabric with a sewing stitch,

4. Cutting the knitted fabric on the outer portion of the sewn outline of each garment section and,

5. Sewing the garment section along its cut edge to the edge of an appropriate garment section so as to form a knitted garment.

* is a: a: 

1. A method of preparing a knitted garment from a knitted fabric comprising the steps of:
 1. Placing a pattern representing at least one garment section on the knitted fabric,
 2. Tracing the outline of the pattern on the knitted fabric,
 2. Tracing the outline of each pattern on the knitted fabric,
 2. A method of preparing a knitted garment from a knitted fabric comprising the steps of:
 2. Tracing the outline of the pattern on the knitted fabric,
 3. Sewing the traced outline on the knitted fabric with a sewing stitch,
 3. Sewing the traced outline on the knitted fabric with a sewing stitch,
 3. Sewing each traced outline on the knitted fabric with a sewing stitch,
 4. Cutting the knitted fabric on the outer portion of the sewn outline of the garment section and,
 4. Cutting the knitted fabric on the outer portion of the sewn outline of each garment section and,
 4. Cutting the knitted fabric on the outer portion of the sewn outline of the garment section and,
 5. Sewing the garment section along its cut edge to the edge of an appropriate garment section so as to form a knitted garment.
 5. Sewing the garment section along its cut edge to the edge of an appropriate garment section so as to form a knitted garment.
 5. Sewing the garment section along its cut edge to the edge of an appropriate garment section so as to form a knitted garment. 